Reborn in the Enemy's Embrace

’Did we move to live in the mountains?’ It felt like everything around me was unusually unfamiliar, as if I was still living in a dream now.

"We moved a while ago. You were unconscious for a long time," Damien said, taking my hand.

I looked down at his hand. For some reason, I had the feeling that his hand shouldn’t be this smooth and unblemished but littered with burn marks and scars

Surprised by my own thoughts, I subconsciously flinched away from Damien’s hand. He looked at me with hurt, but it was fleeting.

"Let’s go out for a walk, Sophia." He brought me out.

"Did Violette... contact me?" I asked Damien upon remembering Violette.

He nodded. "She did. When you got abducted, she helped me and the police look for you. She truly cares for you, Sophia. She’s genuine to you.’

After a moment of silence, Damien continued, "She became a coroner because of you. But her work is getting more demanding now, so she might not be able to visit you as often."

I nodded in reply. She would surely be busier as a coroner.

"Do you want to go out for a walk?" he asked again when he noticed that I wasn’t planning to leave.

I shook my head.

I was fearful of the sunlight outside for some reason. I kept feeling that everything was unreal-that I was still living in a dream.

"I’ll stay at home with you then, Sophia. Damien was about to hug me, yet I instinctively pulled away and resisted him.

I was surprised by my own actions.

Damien and I were not that close, right?

"Did we really adopt the two kids together, Damien? What kind of relationship do we have now?" My mind was blank, and I felt as if I had forgotten something important.

Damien said, ’We’re already planning to register our marriage, Sophia. I admit I wasn’t really kind to you before this-I’ve always been suppressing my feelings for you. But when something happened to you, it made me realize that I really do love you.’

"You’re the only one I love, and I want to do everything I can to make it up to you and win you back. I’ve been staying by your side constantly during this time, and you gradually accepted me back, finally agreeing to my proposal.’

He poured some water for me and handed me some pills. "It’s time for your medications, Sophia.’

I stared at the pills, asking, "What are these pills? I feel fine right now."

I didn’t want to take the medications.

"Be good, Sophia. You suffered serious injuries and are still in the recovery period. You also need treatment for your memory issues. These are the medications for nerve care and memory recovery," Damien coaxed me to take the pills.

I felt resistant and refused to take them.

"You have to listen to the doctor, or you’ll forget things and lose control of your emotions. You even hurt me and the kids that day," Damien said softly. He wasn’t blaming me; it sounded more like a plea.

I looked at him, somewhat shocked. Did I lose control without even noticing?

I took the pills from his hands and swallowed them.

Soon enough, my emotions seemed to be suppressed and I calmed down entirely. There was no extra time or space for me to think about anything else.

Damien took my hand. I seemed to have no energy to pull it out despite my resistance

"Do you want to eat cotton candy, Mom?’ Ashton ran in from the outside, a cotton candy in his hand.

There was a jolt in my mind, and fragments of memories flashed in my mind.

I saw a tall figure getting out of the car to buy me some cotton candy.

"I bought this for my wife. Go buy them yourself if you want some as well... You’ll end up with rotten teeth if you have more..." that person seemed to say.

I stood in a daze as I held onto the cotton candy. Why couldn’t I make out the face of the person in my memory anymore?

Were those my warm memories with Damien? Why did I feel that it wasn’t him?

"The police have solved multiple missing persons cases and discovered the mastermind to be a mad experimental base hidden in a desolate area. Whether it’s a distortion of human nature or the decaying of morality, the exposure of this experimental base has shocked the entire society."

Ashton turned on the TV and was listening to the news again.

Down the mountain, it seemed everything had changed. The exposure of Genome Society was like a large tree being uprooted, leaving a tangled mess in its wake.

People started protesting online and condemning such actions.

"On May 24, 2046, the government issued a new decree banning all sorts of human genome editing experiments. It prohibits all sorts of genetic modification on human embryos for reproduction, experimentation, and other inhumane practices."

"Cloning human embryos are also strictly prohibited, along with-"

Ashton sat on the ground while Stevie sat obediently beside him. They were watching and listening to the reports on genome editing and genetic experiments one after another.

The ’deaths’ of Sofia Miller and Dexter Black were like a bomb, causing ripples everywhere. And now, the misdeeds and corruptions of Genome Society were finally coming to light.

Someone had single-handedly ripped away Genome Society’s cover, exposing their profit-driven activities like genome modification, transplant of edited organs, and human trafficking to the public.

They would soon have nowhere to hide with the government taking action.

"Some people are just like geckos. Even if they’re cut down, they’ll still manage to come back," Ashton mumbled in front of the TV.

I was somewhat surprised to find that even a child would be interested in watching news about societal issues.

"What’s wrong with society? They’re prohibiting genome editing now?" I asked, confused.

Damien seemed to be into it as well, staring at the news. His voice was hoarse when he said, "When we see one cockroach around, that means there are already countless around."

I said nothing and continued to watch the news.

"An 18-year-old young woman went missing for 20 years, only to be found preserved in a cryogenic chamber. The crimes of Genome Society go far beyond this-the exposed experiments are shocking and have rippled across the world."

Media reporters were conducting interviews at the laboratory site discovered in the desolate area. But they weren’t allowed entry due to restrictions.

However, the limited information revealed was enough to shock the entire society.

"Eight genetically superior victims were used as breeding tools to produce the best possible genetic specimens. Only four were still alive when found, and they were already suffering severe mental issues. What the media could report was incredibly limited. The true horrors of Genome Society were those unimaginable and terrifying experiments that couldn’t be fully reported as they would certainly cause widespread panic."

"I thought these things would only happen in foreign countries," I whispered.

"They are happening in foreign countries, but their authorities are involved. That’s why they’ve managed to keep things under a tight wrap,’ Damien explained.

I Nodded my head, saying, "That’s so scary. Let’s not go out that often in the future. There are dangers lurking everywhere.’

Damien nodded and smiled as he held my hands tight. "Alright, I’ll protect you and the kids."

I looked down at his hands. I started to hallucinate for some reason.

I seemed to be seeing a pair of scarred hands holding my own tightly, but they still looked beautiful despite the scars.

The person said, "Live your life untainted, Sophia. Leave the dirty work to me."